News Details
Alumna Assumes Leadership of Women’s Wedding Society
Sarah Jeansonne Wampler, a 2004 graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy, is the new president of the Women’s Wedding Society, a group of Baton Rouge-area female wedding professionals ranging from florists and photographers to bridal boutiques and event planners. Members meet monthly to share information about their unique services, and they host events throughout the year to meet face to face with brides.
Sarah is the founder and curator of Bustle Bridal Gowns and Accessories and served as secretary of the Women’s Wedding Society board. She took over as president from the organization’s founder, fellow Redsticker Morgan Leger Belello ’13, owner of Lauryn Hope Venue & Events. Morgan stepped down as president after the recent birth of her third child.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this incredible group of women and so excited for the future,” Sarah said.
Sarah married her husband, Eric, in 2006. She dreamed of a beautiful, traditional wedding, complete with the perfect wedding gown. When her dress arrived, however, it didn’t fit, thanks to a clerical error made during the ordering process. With just a month before her big day, Sarah had to settle for a dress she “didn’t love.” But an idea took root, and in 2007, she started Bustle, a wedding dress shop dedicated to helping brides find their perfect gown.
Sarah was just 21 years old, but she was undaunted by the challenge of starting a from scratch. “I saw the need for the type of environment I knew I could create for Baton Rouge brides,” she said. “I have a love of customer service, and that’s what this industry is all about.”
Seventeen years later, Bustle has outgrown its original location and is now located on Airline Highway. Sarah remains steadfast in her commitment to helping every bride look and feel beautiful on her special day. “I really feel like this was my calling,” she said. “I still love my job and am so grateful I’ve been able to do it for so long.”
Sarah brings the same energy to her new role as president of the Women’s Wedding Society. “I have always wanted to have a strong network of other female business owners to share our successes and challenges,” she said. “We are restructuring as a non-profit association with the goal of educating, empowering and supporting female wedding professionals. Our focus in 2025 is to grow as leaders in our fields and share our knowledge with each other and the community of couples planning weddings. We are looking forward to hosting lots of events for brides-to-be where they can meet us to get a jump start on their planning process, or simply ask questions so we can help them solve problems. We aim to be a resource for both wedding planning couples as well as wedding professionals.”
In her spare time, Sarah loves taking her two daughters to dance practices and cross country meets, hitting happy hour with her husband and obsessing over Taylor Swift and the Eras Tour.